Fairmont State University is committed to supporting students through the health and economic crisis facing our nation. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted by Congress in March of 2020 will provide Fairmont State with limited emergency funds to assist students facing financial need as a result of COVID-19. If you are a current Fairmont State student with financial hardships as a result of COVID-19, and you are interested in receiving part of these funds, please review the list of eligibility before completing the request form at the link provided below.

Based on the latest guidance available from the Department of Education, in order to be eligible to receive a CARES Act grant, you must be Title IV eligible. For the University to determine your eligibility, you must: *

Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2019-2020 academic year by May 8, 2020, or have a 2019-2020 FAFSA already on file with Fairmont State University

Be eligible for Title IV aid (e.g. Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Work Study, etc.) for the 2019-2020 award year

Be an eligible citizen or eligible non-citizen

Be registered with the Selective Service (if born male)

Not be in default on a prior student loan or owe a grant overpayment

Be making Satisfactory Academic Progress

Not be enrolled in a degree program offered solely online or have withdrawn from the University prior to March 13, 2020, the Proclamation of National Emergency date

Be enrolled at least half-time (defined as 6 credit hours or more)

Be admitted as a regular, degree-seeking student

If you have not completed a 2019-2020 FAFSA, you may still do so at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. You must complete the 2019-2020 FAFSA by May 8, 2020. Completing the request form prior to having a FAFSA on file may delay a decision on your request.

The Office of Financial Aid will make a final determination of your eligibility to receive CARES Act funds.

While the University will make every effort to accommodate all students facing financial hardships, due to the limited availability of CARES Act funds and the evolving nature of guidance from the Department of Education, submitting this request form does not guarantee approval for a CARES Act Grant. If the Office of Financial Aid cannot provide you with this type of grant though, we will make every effort to assist you through further guidance and support

Fairmont State signed the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES Act on April 9, 2020, submitted it to the U.S. Department of Education on April 11, 2020, received approval on April 27, 2020 and intends to use $1,713,280 to provide emergency grants to assist students. These funds are to be distributed to eligible students who complete an application and have experienced a COVID-19 related expense due to the disruption of campus operations, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, child care, medical and travel expense.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education may be awarded a one-time emergency grant of $750 for full-time students and $500 for part-time as defined above. An estimated 2,694 students will be eligible to apply for the emergency grant. Should there be sufficient funds in the future, additional opportunities may be available.

Fairmont State University is required to report to the U.S. Department of Education the number of students awarded 30 days from the day of receiving notification of the award and then every 45 days thereafter until the funds are depleted.

Number of CARES Act Grants awarded per reporting date:

Total number of students awarded

Total amount awarded

Reporting Date

504

$367,250

May 27, 2020

July 13, 2020

August 27, 2020

October 13, 2020

*The information provided regarding CARES Act funding is based on the latest guidance available from the Department of Education. However, the Department of Education sets the criteria for distribution of CARES Act funding, and the University will update and follow this guidance as the information becomes available.​